Display receptacle



July. 18, 1939. J. CIOFALO ET AL: V 2,166,422

DISPLAY RECEPTAGLE Filed July 14, 195'? INVENTOR. JOHN 0/0/7420 JGSEPH C/OFHLO Patented July 18, 1939 PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY RECEPTAGLE John Giofalo, Brooklyn, and Joseph Ciofalo,

Yonkers, N. Y.

Application July 14, 1937, Serial No. 153,468

2 Claims.

This invention relates to display devices and in particular to a display container made in simulation of a basket or the like.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a construction embodying a minimum number of pieces of cardboard or other suitable material from which the display is manufactured, and one which can be readily folded for shipment flat. In devices of this type, an object is to produce a construction which can be shipped to the retailer or jobber for displaying a line of merchandise and be of such simplicity that no effort is required in unfolding and setting up the device for use. Jobbers, in particular do not bother with complicated folding displays and if the retailer of the merchandise is not given instructions in how to set up the display by the jobber, the device is a waste of money in that its inherent advertising and selling value is lost by nonuse.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, we have provided a construction incorporated in a receptacle which, when opened automatically positions the parts for complete set-up so that no instructions are necessary, the device is readily usable, and in addition is of sturdy construction and will not bend, buckle or sag or present an unsightly appearance which would detract from the sales of the merchandise displayed therein. I

A still further object of our invention is to provide a receptacle in which a novel construction of bottom is provided with means for supporting the bottom in place so that the entire construction is rendered rigid and stable and can be knocked-down or folded for shipment in quantity to occupy a minimum space. Further, the parts are scored for ready folding and set-up and the bottom is 'foldably secured to the body of the receptacle to provide a unitary structure that does not employ separate pieces.

With these and other objects in View, our in- Vention comprises the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a form of our invention in which the bottom attaching means is indicated in position to maintain the receptacle open and the parts thereof rigid.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the receptacle illustrated in Figure 1 and showing the construction and arrangement of the parts,

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 showing the set-up relation of the parts of the device in cross section and showing the position assumed by the bottom and attaching parts as the device is folded for knock-down,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the relation of the parts during the folding as 5 the device is knocked down or collapsed for storage or shipment,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a modified form of bottom attaching means, the view being a cross section and also illustrating the position of the bottom and related parts just before or after the bottom is released from its securing means,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the rear side of the receptacle at the pointwhere the bottom is snapped into place, the locking tab being illustrated,

Figure '7 is a plan view, a part being broken away, showing how the device would appear as folded fiat and ready for storage or shipment, and

Figure 8 is a view in cross-section taken through the folded receptacle showing how the parts fold fiat for convenience in piling, shipping or storing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, In indicates the display back panel providing the intermediate portion II and the side parts 12 presenting a front face which is suitably printed, lithographed or otherwise decorated. The up-- per edges of the side parts l2 may be notched or serrated to provide an ornamentation as at I 3. The receptacle is completed at the front side by the front piece l4 having adjoining side parts It, Whose edge flaps l6 are secured as by cementing to the edges of the side parts 12 to provide a hexagonal or six sided receptacle, whose walls taper outward vertically to provide in the bottom of the receptacle a seat for the bottom H.

The back panel intermediate portion II and 4,0 sides [2 are defined by scoring I8, while the front piece i4 and side parts l5 are defined by scoring IS, the scoring permitting the parts to bend relatively to each other so that the receptacle can be folded flat. The entire receptacle is consequently of hexagonal shape with the back portion higher than the front so that the merchandise in the receptacle can be piled up against the back for effective display. The exterior face of the front portions can be printed upon or otherwise ornamented and the receptacle or basket can be placed on a counter to hold articles of merchandise which are showed off to advantage.

The bottom of the receptacle is closed by a bottom piece of hexagonal shape as indicated by the numeral 20 provided along five of its edges with flaps, those at the sides of the bottom constituting reinforce flaps 2| while the one at the front edge of the bottom provides a hinge flap 22 and is secured to the inner face of the front piece l4. The flaps are scored so that they can be conveniently folded and when the device is in use, they rest against the inside walls of the receptacle and provide seating means for the bottom 20. The hinge flap 22 permits the bottom to have swinging movement as indicated in Figures 3, 4 and 8 to provide for the set-up or knockdown of the device.

The rear edge of the bottom 20 is extended to provide a hinge tab 23 which extends well over, and is secured as by cementing, to a hinge tongue 24 cut out of the back intermediate portion II. This tongue 24 is scored as at 25 and 26 to provide bend or fold points while the hinge tab 23 is scored as at 21 to provide a fold point along the rear edge of the bottom 20. The hinge tab 23 as well as the hinge tongue 24 is arranged to swing through the opening 28 left in the back portion by the cutting of the hinge tongue 24, and as illustrated in Figure 3, in full lines, the tab 23 and tongue 24 cooperate to provide a means of suspending the bottom 20 at the rear thereof so that it is effectively supported and will not permit the contents of the container to force the bottom too far into the receptacle to bulge the sides of the latter and consequently get the device out of shape. With this improved hinge means the bottom is partly hung or supported from the rear wall of the device. The most advantageous feature in connection with the improved or novel hinge connection is the fact that the user of the device need have no knowledge of the parts, it being simply necessary to open the receptacle to cause the bottom to assume the position shown in outline in Figure 3 after which the said bottom is forced down into the full line position of Figure 3 and the receptacle is fully open and ready for use. When the device is to be closed, the bottom is simply pushed up or inwardly and the receptacle can be folded fiat to the position shown in Figure 8.

As a modified means of holding the bottom of the receptacle in place, reference is made to Figures 5 and 6, in which the receptacle part is the same as already described, the back being represented by the numeral IDA and the front by MA, the front being foldably joined to the back as by the flaps ISA. The bottom 20A is attached to the front |4A through the medium of the hinge flap 22A, the other flaps 2|A constituting reinforce flaps as previously. The rear edge of said bottom 20A is provided with a protruding tongue 28 which is arranged to force a yieldable lip 29 cut in the back IOA so that said tongue can seat therebeneath on the edge 30 of an opening 3| of which said tongue 28 forms a part. When the device is opened for use, the parts assume the position shown in outline in Figure 5 and by forcing the bottom downwardly, the tongue 28 snaps under the lip 29 and is retained securely in place, as indicated in full lines in said figure.

The bottom is caused to fold automatically by a link 32, whose ends 33 are secured respectively to the bottom 20A adjacent the center thereof and on the underside of said bottom, and to the back |0A at a point adjacent said opening 3|. In closing the device it is simply necessary to force the lip 29 outwardly enough to release the tongue 28 and the tendency of the device to fold up due to its scoring will cause the parts to assume the position shown in outline in Figure 5. It is evident that the display receptacle device can be folded very compactly because the flaps used for reinforce can be folded flat as seen in Figure 7.

It is evident therefore that we have provided a display device which can be set-up or knocked down with a minimum of effort and time, needs no knowledge of its construction and can be folded compactly and will not lose its shape and will display the merchandise to the best sales advantage.

Our invention is not to be restricted to the precise details of construction shown since various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing the advantages derived from its use.

What we claim is:

1. In a display receptacle, in combination, a body providing walls, one of which has an opening therein, a hinge tongue in said opening, a bottom for the receptacle having edges for engagement with the walls, a tab and a flap on said bottom, the flap constituting a hinging means i for foldably securing the bottom to one of said walls and the tab being connected to said tongue to coact with the flap in supporting the bottom in open position between the walls.

2. In a display receptacle, in combination, a collapsible body providing walls, one of which has an opening therein, a hinge tongue in said opening, a bottom for the receptacle, a tab and a flap on said bottom, the flap constituting a hinging means for foldably securing one side of the bottom to one of said walls, and the tab being connected to said tongue to support the bottom in open position in the receptacle, and said tab and tongue being scored to provide fold points whereby the bottom can be folded when the receptacle is collapsed.

JOHN CIOFALO. JOSEPH CIOFALO. 

